Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge) – Copenhagen, Denmark - Atlas Obscura
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Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge)

Copenhagen, Denmark

This bridge's unique architecture honors nautical heritage and encourages self-awareness.  

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Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge) Susanne Nilsson / CC BY-SA 2.0
Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge) Susanne Nilsson / CC BY-SA 2.0
Havfrue "Mermaid " in foreground SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Taken from Canal Cruise SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Taken from Canal Cruise SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
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In Copenhagen, ranked as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, a unique bike and pedestrian bridge opened in 2015: Cirkelbroen. The unique structure was designed by acclaimed, conceptual Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

From a distance, Cirkelbroen resembles sailing ships docked side by side—an intentional nod to the maritime past of the area. The bridge also has a zigzag-like path, which Eliasson hopes makes passersby slow down a bit for some self-awareness.

Cirkelbroen is 130 feet (40 meters) long, made of steel, and consists of five interlinked platforms, each with its own mast held up by metal wires. 

Since the headroom under the bridge is only about 7.4 feet (2.25 meters), the central part of the structure swings open horizontally when larger boats need to pass through.

Around 5,000 cyclists, joggers, and walkers use the bridge daily to cross the mouth of the Christianshavn’s Canal.

Know Before You Go

The nearest metro station is Christianshavn. From there, you can reach Cirkelbroen by foot in about eight minutes.

canals urban planning engineering bridges architecture
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Johan SWE
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SEANETTA
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Published
August 1, 2022
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Nearby
'Havfrue' ('Mermaid')
0.07 miles
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0.38 miles
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